Could Drinking Water From Plastic Cups and Bottles cause Headaches?
While all of us at some point or another have experienced a headache, a migraine can be so severe and debilitating that it can literally put your life on hold. Extreme cases of migraine lead to nausea and vomit and can cause visual disruption. When suffering from a migraine attack, many people find that the most basic daily activities such as listening, seeing, eating, working are near impossible. Whether you find that you are bothered with minor headaches or suffer severe migraines, you may not have considered that drinking water from plastic cups or bottles could be the underlying cause…. But research shows that NOT ALL PLASTICS are the same. 
Is There a Link Between Drinking Water From Plastic Bottles or Cups and Headaches?
Research conducted at Kansas University, has shown that if you are suffering from migraines, it could simply be a result of drinking water from the wrong cup or bottle. Many older plastic bottles and cups contain the chemical BPA or Bisphenol A. This manmade synthetic compound, found in packaging, has already been linked to a number of health problems including infertility, heart attacks and obesity. Unfortunately, for those susceptible to migraines, BPA could only make their headaches worse, increasing light sensitivity and other symptoms.
While you may or may not have already heard of BPA, this potentially harmful chemical is very widespread across the United States. According to the CDC, in a study conducted with over 2,500 participants between the ages of 6 and 85, 93% tested positive for the presence of BPA in their systems. This could mean that you may have inadvertently been triggering more severe migraines simply with your choice of water bottle or cup.
How to Reducing the Risk
One of the first pieces of advice issued by healthcare professionals to avoid headaches is to ensure that you are properly hydrated. For many of us, this means carrying a bottle of water with us all of the time. This news may be particularly troubling for those suffering from headaches, because, as this research suggests, your plastic bottle or plastic cup may actually be making your condition worse.
In order to reduce your risk of severe migraines, one of the leading experts on the subject in the U.S. , Dr. Nancy Berman, Ph.D suggests monitoring your daily drinking habits and tracking when migraines or headaches occur. Many migraine sufferers are aware of their own particular food triggers and have made dietary adjustments. Identifying whether there is a link between your water bottle or plastic drinking cup can be made in the same way. Also to be clear, commercial 5-gallon water jugs, typically are now NOT using BPA plastic. Our company for one addressed this issue long ago when science started indicating that there may be issues with BPA.
While the quality of your drinking water should be always a concern, you need not worry that plastic bottles of mineral water are your only option to stay hydrated. Improving your drinking water and reducing your exposure to BPA could provide you with a great boost in the quality of your life. There are a number of water treatment devices specifically designed for use in the home. These units vary from small under-countertop Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) systems to large capacity, whole house systems. These water treatment devices not only filter out impurities such as calcium or magnesium, but could also limit your exposure to BPA. In many cases, these devices can deliver high quality drinking water for a fraction of the cost of bottled water. This means that you could not only reduce the risk of severe migraines, but save a few dollars in the process.
About The Author, Terry Reeh, Partner EcoWater Systems of Nebraska:
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space , Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. In addition to running the day-to-day operations of EcoWater Systems of Nebraska, one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery enterprises in the state, Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices.